MIAMI, Fla. – Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz spoke with Columbus junior cornerback Josh Jobe on Signing Day for the 2017 class.
Miami cornerback commit Josh Jobe is now a Top100 prospect. (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)
The two had a good conversation for about 10 minutes with Diaz already placing an emphasis on landing premier 2018 corners.
“We have an eye on the 2018 class, which is outstanding at (cornerback),” Diaz said.
Jobe, a four-star prospect according to 247Sports, verbally committed to Miami in June, but will go through the recruiting process as other schools, particularly Alabama, vie for his services.
“Miami is Miami,” Jobe said. “It’s still my hometown and everything, but I still have to do what’s best for me. “
Jobe is looking to attend a different school for his senior year because he will not be eligible to play for Columbus per FHSAA age restriction rules. Jobe will turn 19 years old in April making him ineligible.
“I haven’t decided yet (on my plans), but it will be announced soon,” Jobe said. “It’s a business decision. I’m doing what’s best for me.”
He will be visiting Creshire (Conn.) Academy later this month and depending on how the visit goes, Jobe could be headed to the Northeast.
However, Jobe (6-1, 180) is still enrolled at Columbus for the spring semester and plans to participate in spring football.
“Right now he’s a man child,” Columbus head coach Chris Merritt said. “Physically he’s so well developed and he comes from some pretty good DNA. He’s got one brother (Jonathan Holton) who was playing basketball at West Virginia and the other brother (Johnny Holton) who’s with the Raiders.
“He is a very gifted athlete. This is one of those times where I’m going to tell you I thought my secondary last year was comparable to here if you think about it. I think the sky’s the limit for Josh. I don’t think he’s a corner, I think he’s a safety. I think he’s a close to Deon Bush, but probably a little bit more physically developed than Deon was at this point in his life, but very similar.”
Jobe was at Columbus’ signing day ceremony watching seniors Trajan Bandy (Miami), Christopher Henderson (Florida), and Marcelo Rodriguez (Southern Miss) sign with their respective schools.
“This is very important for them in their lives to college,” Jobe said. “They just have to pick the best for them.”